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FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY 

PUBLICATION  221 
ZOOLOGICAL  SERIES  VOL.  XII,  No.  7 


NEW  SALAMANDERS  OF  THE  GENUS  OEDIPUS 
WITH  A  SYNOPTICAL  KEY 

BY 

E.  R.  DUNN 

Department  of  Zoology,  Smith  College 


REPORTS  ON  RESULTS  OF 
THE  CAPTAIN  MARSHALL  FIELD  EXPEDITIONS 


WILFRED  H.  OSGOOD 
Curator,  Department  of  Zoo]f&L    \yflflNKi    OF   THE 


JUL  1 


CHICAGO,  U.  S.  A. 

May  19,  1924 


NEW  SALAMANDERS  OF  THE  GENUS  OEDIPUS 


BY  E.   R.   DUNN. 


Through  the  courtesy  of  the  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History  in 
loaning  their  collections  of  salamanders  of  the  genus  Oedipus  for  study 
in  connection  with  the  revision  of  the  Plethodontidae,  on  which  I  have 
been  engaged  for  some  time,  I  am  enabled  to  add  to  the  number  of 
described  species,  and  to  clear  up  the  status  of  some  forms  hitherto 
imperfectly  understood. 

A  good  many  new  forms  of  Oedipus  have  been  described  since  the 
last  general  discussion  of  the  genus.  The  various  expeditions  of  the 
Field  Museum  of  Natural  History,  of  the  Museum  of  the  University 
of  Michigan,  and  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology,  during  the 
year  1923,  have  brought  to  light  three  more  new  species  and  good  series 
of  two  forms  hitherto  very  poorly  represented  in  collections.  One  of 
these,  Oedipus  parvipes  Peters,  breaks  down  the  distinction  between  the 
normal  forms  of  the  genus  and  the  wormlike  forms  frequently  referred 
to  Oedipina.  Therefore,  it  seems  appropriate  to  append  to  the  descrip- 
tions of  these  three  new  forms  a  brief  synopsis  of  the  whole  genus. 
This  is  based  on  somewhat  uneven  material,  the  mountain  forms  being 
usually  well  known,  while  the  lowland  species  are  still  represented  in 
collections  by  very  few  specimens.  Of  the  30  species  recognized  here- 
inafter, I  have  seen  specimens  of  29,  the  missing  one  being  the  perhaps 
mythical  salamander  from  Haiti.  These  29  forms  are  represented  by 
a  series  of  564  specimens  preserved  in  various  museums  in  America. 

The  genus  Oedipus  is  closely  allied  to  and  perhaps  derived  from 
the  wide-ranging  northern  genus  Hydromantes.  These  two  represent 
the  terrestrial  wing  of  the  f  ree-tongued  Plethodontidae,  as  Gyrinophilus, 
Pseudotriton,  and  Eurycea  represent  the  mountain-brook  wing.  I 
conceive  these  two  to  be  parallel  series,  Hydromantes  and  Gyrinophilus 
(with  their  primitive  double  premaxillae)  standing  at  their  bases. 
Hydromantes  differs  from  Oedipus  in  having  double  premaxillae,  and 
in  lacking  the  basal  constriction  of  the  tail.  The  "Oedipina"  forms  of 
Oedipus  lack  this  constriction,  but  are  degenerate  in  other  ways  as 
well,  and  are  completely  connected  with  normal  Oedipus  by  parvipes. 
The  genus  is  large  and  varied,  but  the  very  different  extremes  are 
connected  by  intermediate  forms. 

95 


96    FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XII. 

Oedipus  schmidti  sp.  nov. 

Type  from  mountains  west  of  San  Pedro,  Honduras,  at  2000  feet, 
on  trail.  No.  4538  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History.  Adult  female. 
Collected  May  5,  1922,  by  K.  P.  Schmidt. 

Range. — Known  only  from  type  locality. 

Diagnosis. — A  large  Oedipus,  with  groove  from  eye  to  gular  fold; 
feet  well  developed,  almost  entirely  webbed;  vomerine  teeth  20,  series 
extending  beyond  nares;  lead  gray,  with  indistinct  black  spots. 

Description  of  Type. — 13  costal  grooves;  3  costal  folds  between  ap- 
pressed  toes ;  head  width  4%  in  length  from  snout  to  vent ;  head  length 
3^  in  length  of  body;  head  a  truncated  oval  as  seen  from  above;  eye 
longer  than  its  distance  from  tip  of  snout;  outline  of  upper  jaw  con- 
cave as  seen  from  side;  angle  of  jaw  back  of  hind  angle  of  eye;  both 
eyelids  fitting  under  a  fold  of  skin  behind ;  a  groove  from  eye  to  gular 
fold ;  a  groove  from  this  down  behind  angle  of  jaw ;  limbs  well  devel- 
oped; fingers  3,  2,  4,  i  in  order  of  length,  last  joint  of  3  free,  rest 
entirely  in  web;  toes  4,  3,  2,  5,  i  in  order  of  length,  last  joint  of  3 
and  4  almost  free,  rest  entirely  in  web;  anal  lips  smooth;  tail  longer 
than  body,  terete,  a  basal  constriction;  vomerine  teeth  20  in  series, 
beginning  beyond  outer  border  of  nares,  running  nearly  straight  in 
and  then  a  little  back,  separated  from  its  fellow  by  such  a  distance  as 
would  result  from  the  lack  of  one  tooth  of  a  series,  separated  from 
parasphenoids,  by  a  little  over  the  diameter  of  the  nares;  latter  in  a 
single  patch  divided  posteriorly,  beginning  opposite  anterior  fourth  of 
nares;  leaden  gray  above,  lighter  below;  small  irregular  black  spots  on 
sides  of  body  and  tail ;  total  length  195,  head  24,  body  83,  tail  88. 

Remarks. — This  species  seems  quite  close  to  robustus  of  Costa  Rica, 
differing  mainly  in  the  greater  webbing  of  the  toes,  in  the  presence  of 
black  spotting  on  the  sides,  and  in  the  absence  of  the  white  ring  around 
the  base  of  the  tail.  It  is  known  only  from  the  type. 

Oedipus  colonneus  sp.  nov. 

Type  from  La  Loma,  on  trail  from  Chiriquicito  to  Boquete,  alti- 
tude about  2000  feet,  Bocas  del  Toro,  Panama.  No.  9406  Museum  of 
Comparative  Zoology.  Adult  female.  Collected  by  E.  R.  Dunn  and 
Chester  Duryea. 

Range. — Known  only  from  type  locality. 

Diagnosis. — An  Oedipus  with  fully  webbed  toes;  no  teeth  on 
maxilla;  vomerine  teeth  9,  beginning  behind  inner  edge  of  nares;  belly 


MAY,  1924.  NEW  SALAMANDERS — DUNN.  97 

light  gray ;  dorsal  surface  reddish  gray  much  obscured  by  darker  streak- 
ing; a  dermal  ridge  across  head  and  eyelids. 

Description  of  type, — 13  costal  grooves;  4  costal  grooves  between 
appressed  toes ;  head  width  6  in  length  from  snout  to  vent ;  head  length 
3^  in  length  of  body;  head  truncate,  nostrils  at  angles;  eye  less  than 
its  distance  from  tip  of  snout ;  snout  swollen ;  a  tubercle  below  nostril ; 
outline  of  upper  jaw  convex  as  seen  from  side;  angle  of  jaw  back  of 
hind  angle  of  eye ;  upper  eyelid  fits  over  lower  behind ;  a  dermal  ridge 
across  head  between  eyes,  extending  onto  eyelid ;  an  additional  tubercle 
on  eyelid  posterior  to  this;  grooves  of  head  obsolete;  limbs  well  devel- 
oped ;  fingers  and  toes  palmate ;  third  finger  and  third  toe  longest,  their 
tips  projecting  slightly  beyond  web;  tail  constricted  at  base;  anal  lips 
smooth;  tail  longer  than  body;  vomerine  teeth  9  in  series,  beginning 
behind  inner  edge  of  nares,  extending  in  and  back,  separated  from  its 
fellow  by  width  of  nares  and  from  parasphenoids  by  twice  that  dis- 
tance; parasphenoids  in  a  single  patch  beginning  opposite  middle  of 
eye  socket ;  no  teeth  on  maxilla ;  reddish  gray  above ;  light  gray  below ; 
on  dorsal  surface  and  sides  the  ground  color  is  obscured  by  brownish 
black  streaking,  and  shows  clearly  only  on  top  of  the  head;  total 
length  82,  head  10,  body  32,  tail  40. 

Habits. — This  specimen  was  caught  at  night  as  it  sat  on  a  leaf 
about  a  foot  from  the  ground  near  a  small  brook.  It  was  sluggish. 

Remarks. — The  dermal  ridge  across  the  head  is  unique  in  the  genus. 
Unfortunately  only  a  single  specimen  was  secured  so  that  possibly  it 
is  abnormal,  although  it  has  every  appearance  of  normality.  The 
relationships  are  not  very  evident.  The  other  palmate  species  without 
maxillary  teeth  is  rufescens,  and  it  may  be  allied  to  that  form  or  to 
striatulus,  another  small  species  with  dorsal  streaking.  The  specimen, 
although  a  female,  shows  a  strongly  swollen  snout. 

Oedipus  nasalis  sp.  nov. 

Type  from  mountains  west  of  San  Pedro,  Honduras,  at  4500  feet 
altitude.  No.  4568  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History.  Adult  male. 
Collected  April  i,  1923,  by  K.  P.  Schmidt  and  Leon  L.  Walters. 

Range. — Known  only  from  type  locality. 

Diagnosis. — A  small  Oedipus  with  nostrils  large  in  adult;  toes 
webbed  at  base;  2-3  costal  folds  between  appressed  toes. 

Description  of  type. — 13  costal  grooves;  2  costal  folds  between  ap- 
pressed toes;  head  a  blunt  oval;  head  width  4^  in  length  from  snout 


98     FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XII. 

to  vent ;  head  length  about  4  in  length  of  body ;  snout  swollen,  a  tubercle 
below  nostril;  nostril  larger  than  pupil;  outline  of  upper  jaw  sinuous 
as  seen  from  side;  angle  of  jaw  below  hind  angle  of  eye;  both  eyelids 
fitting  under  a  fold  of  skin  behind;  a  groove  from  eye  to  gular  fold; 
a  branch  from  this  down  behind  angle  of  jaw;  limbs  well  developed; 
fingers  3,  4,  2,  I  in  order  of  length,  last  two  phalanges  of  3  free ;  toes 
3,  4,  2,  5,  i  in  order  of  length,  last  two  phalanges  of  3  free ;  tail  longer 
than  head  and  body,  constricted  at  base,  terete ;  anus  lined  with  papillae ; 
vomerine  teeth  5  in  series,  beginning  behind  inner  edge  of  nares,  curv- 
ing in  and  back,  separated  from  its  fellow  by  a  space  equalling  the  gap 
between  two  teeth  of  the  same  series,  separated  from  parasphenoids  by 
the  length  of  a  series ;  latter  in  single  patch,  beginning  opposite  middle 
of  eye-socket;  internal  nares  a  slit;  premaxillary  teeth  enlarged,  for- 
ward, out  of  line  with  maxillary  teeth;  dark  grayish  brown,  lighter  on 
back,  a  dark  band  on  sides;  a  dark  triangle,  apex  backwards,  base 
between  eyes;  lighter  gray  dotted  with  white  below  and  on  sides;  two 
light  spots  on  base  of  tail;  total  length  75,  head  6.5,  body  25.5,  tail  43. 

Variation. — A  female,  Field  Museum  No.  4579,  same  data,  differs 
in  having  the  snout  not  so  swollen;  no  tubercle  under  nostril;  anal 
lips  smooth;  vomerine  teeth  8  in  series,  separated  from  its  fellow  by  a 
gap  equalling  twice  that  between  two  teeth  of  the  same  series,  sep- 
arated from  parasphenoids  by  twice  that  distance;  total  length  80, 
head  7,  body  27,  tail  46. 

A  young  specimen,  Field  Museum  No.  4584,  same  data,  has  the  dor- 
sal region  covered  by  a  light  reddish  gray  band  with  scalloped  edges,  this 
band  contains  irregular  darker  spots,  and  two  lighter  spots  above  anus ; 
a  dark  band  between  eyes ;  a  dark  stripe  from  eye  to  insertion  of  arm, 
total  length  46,  head  4,  body  17,  tail  25;  3  costal  folds  between  ap- 
pressed  toes. 

No.  4590,  same  data,  is  reddish  gray  above  and  on  sides,  gray  below ; 
weak  and  irregular  dorsal  and  lateral  dark  lines;  a  dark  stripe  from 
eye  to  insertion  of  arm;  total  length  55,  head  5,  body  20,  tail  30. 

Some  young  have  an  immaculate  dorsal  band,  and  all  the  young  are 
marked  while  most  of  the  adults  are  almost  uniform. 

Remarks. — This  species  is  closely  allied  to  O.  picadoi  of  Costa 
Rica,  which  has,  however,  weaker  limbs,  there  being  six  costal  folds 
between  the  appressed  toes.  The  other  two  forms  with  large  nostrils, 
pennatulus  and  townsendi,  have  the  toes  completely  webbed. 


MAY,  1924.  NEW  SALAMANDERS — DUNN.  99 

A  KEY  TO  THE  FORMS  OF  OEDIPUS. 

The  species  of  Oedipus  form  four  series,  which  may  thus  be  out- 
lined : 

I.  bellii,  schmidti,  robustus   (a  primitive  series  with  no  obvious 
allies). 

II.  cephalicus    (leprosus   auct.),   rostratum,   morio,   subpalmatus, 
ads  perms,   altamazonicus,   colonneus,  rufescens,   striatulus,   lignicolor, 
yucatanus,  salvinii,  attitlanensis ,  platydactylus  (variegatus  auct.).    This 
series  begins  with  five  mountain  animals  with  incompletely  palmate  feet 
and  ends  with  palmate  lowland  species  whose  immediate  relationships 
are  uncertain.    However,  the  last  five  are  pretty  clearly  allied. 

III.  sulcatus,  chiropterus,  rex,  nasalis,  picadoi,   townsendi,  pen- 
natulus.    These  are  all  small,  mountain  species.     Four  have  enlarged 
nostrils. 

IV.  lineolus,    infuscatus,    parvipes,    alfaroi,    collaris,    uniformis. 
These  are  the  "Oedipinas"  and  have  no  primitive  members  and  no 
obvious  connection  with  any  other  forms.     The  Haitian  form  is  per- 
haps mythical. 

Of  these  four  series  the  most  primitive  of  each  is  set  down  first  and 
is  a  Mexican  species.  What  I  have  considered  as  platydactylus  may 
prove  divisible  into  two  or  three  races.  The  key  does  not  pretend  to 
follow  throughout  the  natural  order,  being  arranged  solely  with  regard 
to  convenience  and  ease  of  determination. 

1.  Oedipus  of  normal  salamander  form,  not  wormlike,  never  more  than  14 
costal  grooves,  feet  and  limbs  never  much  reduced,  nostrils  never  large 

in    adult 2 

Oedipus  of  which  the  above  is  not  true 21 

2.  Toes  not  fully  webbed 3 

Toes  fully  webbed 13 

3.  Large    species    reaching    195    mm.,    markings    not    a    light    dorsal    band, 

vomerine  teeth  18-20  in  series 4 

Medium  and  small  species,  never  over  150  mm.,  markings  usually  a  light 
dorsal  band,  vomerine  teeth  at  most  15  in  series 6 

4.  Toes  nearly  free,  a  double  row  of  yellow  spots  on  back,  Mexico bellii 

Toes  about  half  webbed,  no  dorsal  markings 5 

5.  Toes  more  webbed,  no  light  ring  at  base  of  tail,  Honduras schmidti 

Toes  less  webbed,  a  light  ring  at  base  of  tail,  Costa  Rica robustus 

6.  Small  species  not  over  90  mm.,  toes  nearly  free,  9  or  fewer  teeth  in 

vomerine    series 7 

Medium  species,  toes  usually  half  webbed,  9  or  more  teeth  in  vomerine 
series 9 

7.  Vomerine  series  very  oblique,  beginning  at  inner  edge  of  nares,  inner 

toe  rudimentary,  tail  longer  than  head  and  body,  eastern  Mexico. .  .chiropterus 
Vomerine  series  more  transverse,  beginning  outside  inner  edge  of  nares, 
inner  toe  not  rudimentary 8 


ioo  FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY — ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  XII. 

8.  Tail  shorter  than  head  and  body,  western  Mexico sulcatus 

Tail  longer  than  head  and  body,  Guatemala rex 

9.  Toes  nearly  free,  a  groove  from  eye  to  gular  fold,  Mexico cephalicus 

Toes  half  or  more  webbed,  no  groove  from  eye  to  gular  fold 10 

10.  Two  phalanges  of  third  toe  free,  Guatemala rostratum 

Less  than  two  phalanges  of  third  toe  free 1 1 

11.  One  phalange  of  fourth  toe  free 12 

Less  than  a  whole  phalange  of   fourth  toe  free,   Colombia  and  Vene- 
zuela     adspersus 

12.  Two  very  different  color  phases,  one  with  light  belly,   Guatemala  and 

Honduras  morio 

No  light  color  phase,  Costa  Rica  and  Panama subpalmatus 

13.  Belly   unpigmented    14 

Belly   pigmented 15 

14.  A  dorsal  light  area  with  large  dark  spots  outlined  with  light,   Pacific 

Coast,  Mexico  to  Costa  Rica salvinii 

Dark  with  two  dorso-lateral  light  lines,  Guatemala  and  Chiapas . . .  attitlanensis 

15.  Belly  striped,  yellow  and  blackish  brown,  Nicaragua  and  Costa  Rica.striatulus 
Belly   not    striped 16 

16.  Dorsal  area  of  clear  yellow,  with  or  without  black  spotting  or  streaking, 

Mexico  to  Honduras platydactylus 

Dorsal  area  not  of  clear  yellow 17 

17.  Large  species  over  150  mm 18 

Small  species  under  ioo  mm 19 

18.  Legs  longer,  black  with  dirty  yellowish  or  reddish  dorsal  area,  Costa 

Rica  and  Panama lignicolor 

Legs  shorter,  brown  with  ochre  mottlings,  Yucatan  and  Guatemala,  .yucatanus 

19.  No  maxillary  teeth 20 

Maxillary  teeth  present,  east  face  of  Andes,  Colombia  to  Bolivia 

altamasonicus 

20.  A  dermal  ridge  across  head,  dark  with  lighter  streaking,  Panama . .  colonneus 
No  dermal  ridge  across  head,  a  lighter  dorsal  area,  Mexico  and  Guate- 
mala     rufescens 

21.  Toes  free  or  nearly  so  (nostrils  large) 22 

Toes  much  reduced,  entirely  webbed 23 

22.  2-3  costal  folds  between  appressed  toes,  Honduras nasalis 

6  costal  folds  between  appressed  toes,  Costa  Rica picadoi 

23.  Not  wormlike,  nostrils  large  in  adult 24 

Wormlike,  nostrils  not  large  in  adult 25 

24.  Teeth  on  maxilla,  4-5  costal  folds  between  appressed  toes,  Mexico ..  townsendi 
No  teeth  on  maxilla,  6  costal  folds  between  appressed  toes,  Mexico,  .pennatulus 

25.  Costal  grooves  14 26 

Costal  grooves  17  or  more 27 

26.  Black,    Mexico lineolus 

Brownish,  Haiti infuscatus 

27.  Costal  grooves  17,  Colombia  to  Panama parvipes 

Costal  grooves   19-21 28 

28.  Larger,    stouter,    head    longer,    tail    constricted   at    base,    Nicaragua    to 

Panama collaris 

Smaller,  slimmer,  head  shorter,  tail  not  constricted  at  base 29 

29.  Brown,  no  maxillary  teeth,  Costa  Rica alfaroi 

Black,  maxillary  teeth  present,  Honduras  to  Panama uniformis 


UBHW1  *  'tt 
JUL  1 '  192* 

UNIVERSITY  OF  IIUHOB 


